North Korea says it will launch a new Unha-3 rocket carrying an Earth-observing satellite into orbit in April 2012 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the country's founder. The launch window ranges between April 12 and April 16. Many nations, including the United States, South Korea and Japan, have condemned the planned launch, which they see as a military missile test in disguise.

Update for April 13, 5:53 p.m. ET

In a rare and embarrassing admission, North Korea publically acknowledged that its Unha-3 rocket failed to reach orbit during an attempted April 13 launch. The failed launch was the third attempt by North Korea to orbit a satellite. All three have failed. After earlier attempts, one in 1998 and the other in 2009, North Korean officials maintained the launches were successful despite confirmation of failure by U.S. intelligence officials. Full Story

Is North Korea's Unha-3 rocket launch really a space mission or a missile test?

North Korea Admits Rocket Launch Failure in Rare Statement
North Korea officially acknowledged the failure of its latest rocket launch Friday (April 13) in a rare admission from the reclusive nation, which defied international warnings not to launch what the United States and other countries saw as a missile weapons test.

Thursday, April 12

North Korea Long-Range Rocket Launch Fails: Reports
A defiant North Korea attempted to launch its new long-range rocket early Friday despite international warnings to stand down, but the vehicle failed to reach space and apparently crashed into the sea, according to press reports.

North Korea Rocket Launch Site Seen From Space
New satellite photos of North Korea reveal fresh details about the nation's space launch
facilities, where preparations continue for the imminent, and highly controversial, flight of a long-range rocket.

North Korea Fueling Long-Range Rocket for Defiant Launch
North Korea has reportedly begun fueling its new long-range rocket for what it says is a benign satellite launch, despite continuing condemnation by the United States and other countries, which see the flight as a defiant missile test.

North Korea Poised for Controversial Rocket Launch
North Korea is planning to launch an Earth-observing satellite on a long-range rocket sometime between April 12 and 16. The launch has been condemned by the U.S. and South Korea as a disguise for testing military missiles.Monday April 2

In this still from a CNN broadcast, a North Korean official briefs reporters on the Kawngmyongsong-1 ("Bright Star 1") satellite, which is set to launch atop the country's Unha-3 ("Galaxy-3") rocket to launch in April 2012.Credit: CNN